Callum O’Hare had been the star of Aston Villa’s Carabao Cup run prior to last night's clash with Middlesbrough so there was a sense of excitement when the diminutive attacker’s name was included on the team sheet.

O’Hare was named on the bench a couple of times last season as Bruce turned to youth to cope with the injury crisis in spring.

But the 19-year-old didn’t taste first team minutes until the opening game of pre-season against Telford United in July.

Such was his impact that night, and in other matches, O’Hare was handed a place on the mini pre-season tour of Germany.

His 45 minute cameo in the opening Cup of Traditions game against MSV Duisburg left supporters yearning for more from the little attacker.

While he has featured in first team squads and stepped off the bench for 30 minutes at Cardiff, the cup has been O’Hare’s chief exposure to first team football.

The clash with a strong Boro side was undoubtedly the toughest test of his young career

The action

It didn’t take O’Hare long to show those who don’t regularly attend under-23 games - where he has sparkled this season - what he’s all about.

He drifted in from the right wing and wriggled clear of his marker in the centre before playing a deft through ball for Hogan, who saw his effort blocked.

Boro’s central defenders, Daniel Ayala and Ben Gibson, were unsure whether to risk engaging with O’Hare and he almost picked them off.

O’Hare’s decision making continues to improve with each game and he started an attack from inside his own half midway through the first half which should have led to more for Villa.

A clever ball with the outside of his right foot found Onomah, who in turn fed Hogan but the striker ran into Gibson.

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Conclusions

On a night where few Villa players stood out, O’Hare looked the most likely creative avenue. He also showed the fight Bruce demands of players in his first team and even stood between an angry Chris Samba and Daniel Ayala at one point. The Solihull teenager is fearless with and without the ball.

O’Hare was often on the same wavelength as Josh Onomah as two of Villa’s more technically gifted footballers worked in tandem to offer glimpses of entertainment to the 11,197 supporters at Villa Park.